Trench-digging machine.



-H. S. BROWN. TRENOH DIGGING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 2, 1913.

Patented 001;. 20, 1914.

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' ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD S. BROWN, OF BRAZIL, INDIANA, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO JOHN '1. PIERSON, 0F TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA, AND ONE-FOURTH TO CHARLES D. PIER-SON,

OF LEWIS, INDIANA.

TBENCH-DIGGING MACHINE.

ments in trench digging machines, and more especially to that type of machine that is provided with a wheel having buckets disposed at intervals around its periphery, and that is adapted to be drawn andits wheel rotated by a slow moving traction engine.

The especial object of my invention is to provide a form' of bucket to be used in connection with the above described class of machines, that will be especially effective in operation, and simple and strong-in con-- struction.

Another object is to provide means for delivering the excavated material uniformly to both sides of the trench, thus making the final process of filling in comparatively simpler than heretofore.

A further, object of my invention is to 1Erovide means in the form of a series of nives for cutting roots, which hitherto has been one of the main obstacles to overcome in machines of this type. I

A still further object is to provide a structure as a whole, that will be very rigid in its construction; that will be a positive cleaner, and one that cannot choke or clog.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and need not be specifically set forth herein.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, I have illustrated my invention, similar reference characters referring to similar parts throughout the following views.

Figure 1 is a left hand side elevation of my machine complete, but shown unattached to its motive power; Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the relative arrangement of the plows, and also of'the conveyer or side delivery device, and Pi 3 is an enlarged ver- Specification. of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2, 1913.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914. Serial No. 782,546.

beams 5, are spaced apart and rigidly secured together by cross-members 5*, one at eachend thereof respectively, thus forming the main frame of my machine. A shoe or runner of the type commonly used in machines of this character, com rising an uprlght member 5 a horizonta member 5, a guide 5", and a plurality of braces, as shown, is adapted to support the rear end of the frame 5, 5, and is secured thereto by a transverse member 5, bolted to the two side members 5 a short distance from the rear thereof.

. 6 represents'a bull wheel, preferably made with a flat metal rim, and provided on its inner face with teeth forming an internal annular gear 6 Said wheel is su ported by, and rotated u on four pairs of rollers 7, journaled at t e corners of a skeleton frame, composed of rods 8, which are secured to cross-members 5 bolted to the bottom of the members-5 and also to the. main frame, as shown. The means of driving the wheel 6,. consists of a small pinion 9, which is keyed to the center of a power shaft 10, which is journaled in bearings supported on the frame members 5, and driven by means not shown. Said pinion is in constant mesh with the gear 6. Around the outer periphery of said wheel 6, and

rlgidly secured thereto by rivets 11, are two rims 11, of angle iron, their vertical sides extending from the wheel 6, and forming radially extending flanges 11*. A space 11 is left between the flanges 11, which extend around the entire periphery of said wheel and at intervals receive, the walls 12, of buckets 12. Said buckets are made from as clearly shown in Fig. 3, their outer edges being bent downwardly, forming flanges 12. Each of these buckets is made in two identical sections, and their vertical walls are secured together and also to the flanges 11*, by rivets 13, passing through the respective walls 12 and 11*. When secured in this manner, the front or cutting edges of the buckets extend tangentially from the rims 11, as indicated in Fig. 1. A fiat knife blade 14:, pointed at its outer end, is inserted and secured in place between the flanges 11 just ahead of each bucket.

Secured to rods or braces 15, which are bolted to the top of the I-beams 5, and located on each side of the wheel 6, so as to sheet steel bent substantially in a V-shape, I

engage the angle irons 11, are scrapers 16, adapted to extend into the interior of the buckets 12, the upper edges of said scrapers adapted to engage the inclined top walls of said buckets as the latter rotate with the wheel.

Located below .the scrapers 16 is a spreader, consisting of two inclined plates 18, pivoted near their upper edges to horizontally disposed rods 21, 22, which are supported on a framework 23, secured to and extending above the main frame 5. Said plates 18 are so arranged-as to carry the excavated material falling from the scrapers 16 to both sides of the trench being dug by said machine.

19 represents substantiall semi-circular strips or plates, located partially within the frame 5, and one on each side of the Wheel '6,as shown in Fig. 3, and secured to said frame by suitable-braces 20.

The operation of'my device is as follows The runner 5, having been laced in a ditch which has been excavated lnitially the desired depth, and suitable connections having been made between the shaft 10 and a motor, the wheel 6 will be rotated-clockwise, causing the buckets 12 to out the forward side and bottom of the ditch, and as the walls of the buckets incline inwardly toward the wheel, at their rear ends, the soil as it is separated, will be gathered up and compressed Within their sides, and carried around to the scrapers 16, where it is forced out and allowed to fall by gravity upon the plates 18, from where it is delivered to both sides of the trench. The plates 19 prevent the soil from falling out of the buckets upon their upwardmovement.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a trench-digging machine, a supporting frame, a di ging member rotatably mounted on said rame and composed of a Wheel having peripheral angular flanges, shovels secured between said flanges and having, their cutting edges extending obliquely and laterally from said wheel, flat pointed blades arranged centrally of said shovels and in front of their cutting edges,

and plates secured to said supporting frame, and adapted to engage the edges of said shovels. i

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD S. BROWN.

Witnesses AUDLEY DONHAM, JAMES GILLETTE. 

